Washington Capitals: Expansion draft history
1991 Expansion Draft
The 1990s saw a huge era of expansion, with the NHL holding drafts in three consecutive years on two separate occasions. 1991 saw the league add the San Jose Sharks. The Minnesota North Stars participated in it as well because their owners (the Gund brothers) wanted to move to the Bay Area. In a compromise, the NHL awarded them the Sharks and allowed them to sell the North Stars to an approved buyer. Minnesota participated in the expansion draft to replenish their roster.
There were two parts to this draft – the dispersal draft and the expansion draft. In the former, the North Stars selected 14 skaters and two goalies (1990 draft picks were exempt) to be protected from the Sharks. The Sharks got to pick 14 skaters and two goalies from Minnesota.
In the expansion draft process, the Washington Capitals lost center Rob Murray to the North Stars. Gustafsson, whose rights were held by the Detroit Red Wings, went to the Sharks. This expansion draft saw yet another Hockey Hall of Fame forward get selected, this time by the North Stars – Guy Lafleur. Eventually, he got traded back to the Quebec Nordiques, who held his rights, before retiring prior to the start of the 1991-92 season. Those are the weird facts that help you win trivia at the bar.